Greetings from the Mayor

In the Municipality of Mytilene we express our visions Internet-wise. We improve theservices we offer to our citizens and visitors by developing an e-guide of the Mytilene cityin collaboration with the DETAM (Municipal Company for the Tourist Development), ETAL(Lesvos Local Development Company, S.A.) and the University of the Aegean.

Internet users may use the Mytilene e-guide to virtually navigate the Municipality ofMytilene, its monuments, museums and sightseeing and get to know the history and theculture of the region as well as create a personalized e-guide for their mobile devicestailored to their individual interests.

Along with the technology's alliance, the Municipality of Mytilene realizes one moredynamic move by establishing a new arrangement for the development of the city. Theimplementation of the e-guide aims at strengthening the cultural identity of our city andsupporting the tourist and economic growth of the region.

Nasos Giakalis

Mayor of Mytilene

Greetings from the Vice mayor of Tourism

We welcome you to our new digital tourist guide. The e-guide offers tourists theopportunity to navigate at the quay, the districts, the villages of the municipality Mytileneand regions with cultural and tourist interest.

It is a digital cultural escort to the city of Mytilene that provides a description of the city andthe villages supported by audiovisual content that informs about the historical spots, thecultural heritage, the sightseeing. It includes a city map and provides useful tips andinformation. The e-guide is a means of promoting tourism at Mytilene and aiding theexploration of the city and the municipal regions. The innovation of this project is thedevelopment of the personalized e-guide.

We live in a modern city, thus the Municipality of Mytilene and DETAM (MunicipalCompany for the Tourist Development), in collaboration with ETAL (Lesvos LocalDevelopment Company, S.A.) and the Department of Cultural Technology andCommunication of the University of the Aegean offer our visitors the opportunity to tasteand enjoy everything that Mytilene, ‘the Duchess of the Aegean’, has to offer.

Vaso Chochlaka

President DETAM

Vice mayor of Cultural Affairs

1. The fortress of Mytilene was the largest and one of themost powerful in the Eastern Mediterranean. The area whereinthe castle is built is called “Kioski” and used to be an islet untilthe early Byzantine times.The original core of the fortress was formed in the Byzantineages, during the reign of Justinian, and is believed to standover the ancient Acropolis. The first important interventions on

the castle took place during the Gatelouzi period, in 1373. Even nowadays, a squaretower with a built-in plate is preserved, bearing the coat of arms of the Gatelouzi in relief;the tower was their palace. However, in the external main gate of the castle there exists

another built-in plate with the anterior coat of arms of the Paleologi, signalling a smoothtransition between the two eras. Later on, during the Ottoman period, further interventions and enhancements followed.Following the island’s liberation from the Turks, in 1912, the fortress was used as abarracks. The castle is comprised of three parts. The upper section (Epano Kastro) -wherein,according to tradition, the Acropolis was located - was used as a residence area byByzantines and Genovese alike, each with their respective palace-towers. The middlesection (Meseo Kastro) comprises the main enceinte of the fortress and was constructedby the Gatelouzi. Therein exist several buildings of the Ottoman period. And, finally, thelower section (Kato Kastro), namely the bottom enceinte of the building on itsnorth-western side, which was an exclusively Turkish addition. Access to the castle was gained through its three gates, the most important being the onein the south, bearing the coat of arms of the Paleologi. Small towers, watch posts,guard-houses and other similar defensive constructions are spread throughout the castle. In modern times, the castle of Mytilene is an archaeological site and hosts cultural eventsduring the summer period.

2. The Ministry of the Aegean and Island Policy is housedin a stylish Mansion in the Kioski area of Mytilene, quite closeand across the Municipal Courthouse. The two-storied, oblong building complies with the standardstyle of grand, neo-classical buildings. One may enter itsinterior through a portico with four pillars, which support threehigh arcs. On top of these rises the second floor of the Ministry.

On this spot, the section of the forefront protrudes in the second floor of the building aswell, crowned with an imposing gable. The Ministry was erected in 1893 by the Ottomans, initially in order to be used as theisland’s command post and then as the command post of the whole Province (Vilayet) ofthe islands. Following the liberation of 1912, the building was used, for a short period, asthe seat of the first political and military Command of Lesvos. Later on, it was converted toan Orphanage in order to house the orphans of the city – which were numerous, due tothe ‘first persecution’. Since 1989, just a few years after the establishment of the Ministryof the Aegean, the building has housed the Ministry. Following its recent restoration, the building is among the finest in the Kioski area

3. The Courthouse of Mytilene (or “Hall of Themis”) ishoused in a neo-classical building in the Kioski area, close tothe castle of Mytilene. The building was built around 1895 by the Turks and used asthe only seven-grade Ottoman High School or Entatie. Theconstruction of that High School in the end of the 19th centurywas considered as the Ottoman rulers’ response to thefoundation of the Hellenic High School Hall by the primebenefactors of the island. The imposing two-level Courthouse

dominates the entire Kioski area. Its front side, with the ionic colonnettes and the manyarch-shaped windows evokes similar neo-classical monumental buildings of that era. Thewhole building is surrounded by a large verdant yard. Following the island’s liberation, the building became the property of the Hellenic Stateand is used until nowadays as the seat of the Lesvos County court services.

4. The Municipal Gallery is housed in a three-storey mansion, which dominates theEpano Skala area. The building has been erected between 1850 and 1880 by theKoulaxides family. The Gallery exhibits one of the most important collections of paintings, given to theMunicipality of Mytilene by George Simos-Petris and his sister Elli Simos. George

Simos-Petris was one of the most important art critics in Greece, and had developed apersonal friendship with distinguished Greek painters. After his death in 1998, theSimos-Petris collection was donated to the Municipal Gallery. The collection wascompleted with a new donation by his sister Elli Simos in 2001. Today, the overallcollection comprises 138 paintings, engravings, books and gravures. The Municipal Gallery exhibits –among others- works by the painters Tsarouxis,Gounaropoulos, Moralis, Fasianos, as well as works by important foreign artists such asPicasso and Matisse. Apart from the particularly important Petris collection, the Municipal Gallery also includes aremarkable collection of the works of Lesvian painters, such as Axiotis, Perros,Moutzourelis, Athineos, Kallipolitis, Karapiperis and others.

5. Yali Camii is located on the inshore road of the port ofEpano Skala, in Mytilene. Yali Camii, along with Vigla Mosque,was one of the two mosques built on the inshore road of the oldport after the earthquake of 1867. Yali Camii was the property of the Muslim community and wasbuilt around 1880. It was a single-level building and its roof wascovered by tiles and reclining on all sides. Its building materialswere taken from the Sarmusak area. The entrance of the women’s section was located on the

north-eastern outer corner of the mosque, while on its north-western outer corner stood apentagonal minaret that collapsed in 1939. The inside of the building was lit by multipleequilateral windows and lanterns, adding a flavour of elegance. A two-sided marble staircase with two steps led to a marble landing and then to thedouble, wooden, arch-shaped door of the mosque. A built-in plate bearing an inscription inArabic characters is located over the door; it praises the almightiness of God and givesevidence that the mosque replaced an earlier one, built on the same location around1690. In the interior of the mosque, the prayer hall appears to have had excellent decoration, as

evidenced by the coloured decorative traces of the roof.

6 The northern port of Mytilene in the area of Epano Skalawas called “Malois Limin” after the sanctuary of Maloen Apollo,which was found in the area. This port used to be the tradecentre of the city. The remains of two breakwaters from the 5thcentury still stand on the site, in exceptionally good condition.The first eastern breakwater is 350m long and branches offfrom a tower of the ottoman section of the castle of Mytilene.On its northern side, in past times, there existed a lighthouse,

as illustrated in gravures of the 18th century. The second north-western breakwater isextended from the beach, close to the abandoned factory of Kalamaris, and stretches tothe east in a distance of 150m. The original construction of the harbour installations dates back to the end of the 5thcentury B.C., according to evidence provided by the historian Thucydides. However, therealso exists a third underwater breakwater that follows the same trail with the eastern oneand bends to the west, forming a small port-basin. Presumably, its construction representsan earlier harbour work.

7. Hellenistic Loggia Next to the coast road at the old northport of Mytilene which leads from the Epano Skala region to theSynoikismo, there is a large archaeological site. There, next tothe buildings of the refugee market, a stoic building has beendiscovered, which is dated from the late 4th or early 3rd centuryB.C.The arcade of the Hellenistic Agora, which is dated between

the late 4th or early 3rd century B.C. has been discovered. At the site, there are visibleparts of the stylobate of the arcade and many sequential room areas, which are related tothe functions of the Hellenistic market of that region.The arcade was extended 150 meters to the east. Northwest to this arcade, another,smaller arcade has been discovered, and both were surrounded by the port wall.

8. Valide Camii is situated in Epano Skala, in the old part ofthe city, close to the sea, in contemporary Kornarou Str. Themonument has been known with varying names, such as Balic,Valide or Vali Camii. Valide Camii was probably built before 1791, as evidenced byits statement of foundation. As for its founding inscription,located over its front entrance and reporting 1615 as its year offoundation, it actually belonged to an older monument. ValideCamii has been built thanks to the donation of the assistant

governor’s (Halil Aga) daughter, Hum Gulsum, who was involved in numerous charities. The building is made of stone and is single-leveled, with a gabled roof. A three-sidedmarble staircase with three levels led from the cobbled yard to the open-air outer narthex.In the middle of the front-side there is a double door, used to enter the inner part of themosque. On either side of the entrance there are windows that ensure sufficient lightingfor the room. At nights, the interior of mosque was lit by lamps and hanging candelabras,while the exterior by lights vertically placed on the circumferential loft of the minaret. Thefloor was paved with slabs and floor-boards and -as was typically the case with mosques-covered by carpets. A multi-sided fountain made of white marble and decorated by graven arabesques wassituated in the center of the mosque’s yard, and is currently housed in the ArcheologicalMuseum of Mytilene. A 15-meter-high minaret is located on the north-western corner of the mosque. Its basis ishexagonal and its body cylindrical. This is the only minaret still standing in the city ofMytilene.

9. The “Intermediate School of Mytilene”, where theExperimental Lyceum of Mytilene is housed nowadays, wasbuilt between 1888 and 1890 in the centre of the city ofMytilene. The building was built on a site donated by the city’s benefactorMitrelias with the financial assistance of other Lesvianbenefactors. The building was the work of the Lesvian architect ArgyrisAdalis, who served as an assistant of the German architects

Hansen and Ziller. The three-storey building is patterned after neo-classical architecture,while its floor plan is in the shape of the Greek letter “ ”. Sofocles Vournazos contributed alot to the project’s completion; his statue adorns the School’s yard. The building was used in 1912 by the Greek liberation army; in 1914 it housed refugeesfrom the ‘first persecution’ while, in 1922, it also housed refugees from the Asia Minordisaster. Several important literary figures and intellectuals taught in the 1st Intermediate School,while many of the teachers, such as the world famous academic Michael Stefanidis, alsoserved as professors in the University of Athens.

10. Yeni Camii is located in the middle of the former Turkishmarket, in the modern area of Epano Skala, in Mytilene. Ashort distance away stands the Terse Hamam building, whilethe mosque’s cemetery was also nearby. Yeni Camii was the largest and latest among the mosques ofthe town in the 19th century; this is revealed by its name, since“yeni” means “new” in Turkish. The mosque was built byNazere Mustafa Aga Kulaksede in 1825. After the Asia Minordisaster, many refugees were housed in the building, while itsroof was demolished later in order to sell its building materials. The Mosque is made of stone, covered by tiles, and built in the

turkish-byzantine style with dome. Its ground plan is square, while its height reaches about12 meters. The building forms a gallery on its northern side, while its outer narthex isattached on the same side. Inside, the niche of the sanctum, the mihrab and parts of theoriginal wall decoration are still maintained. The house of the mufti, a marble fountain andauxiliary rooms were located in the building’s parvis. Of special interest is the gravenminiature representation of the mosque, located in the middle of the front side of themosque, over the exit of the outer narthex. The minaret used to stand on the north-western corner of the mosque; it was 30 metershigh and stood higher than the bell tower of the Mytilene cathedral. Only the base of theminaret still exists. Nowdays, Yeni Mosque, although not renovated, is occasionally used for cultural events.

11. The ottoman bath (hamam) of the city of Mytilene, orTarsi Hamam, is located in the city centre, in a road adjoiningErmou street and in short distance from Geni Mosque. Thename of the bath derives from the Turkish word “tarsi” whichmeans market. The existence of the ottoman bath is tied with the Turkishbourgeois architecture that uses the baths as the receptionarea for foreigners who come to the town. At the same time,this building conformed to the religious and social context ofIslam. The ottoman bath’s design expresses the general tendencytowards the revival of the classical models of the 16th century.However, its generally strict design evokes the period of

neo-ottoman art of the 19th century. The building itself comprises many rooms that are arrayed linearly. The bath is comprisedof halls wherein one gradually proceeds from the cold room to the hot one, following themorphology of ancient ‘balneo’ and roman thermal baths. The entrance of the bath is onits eastern side, wherefrom one enters the large square room of the “cold” with itsimposing hemispheric dome, and then proceeds to hotter rooms. Nowadays, Tarsi Hamam, especially after restoration works, is a monument of theottoman period. The bath’s premises host a variety of cultural events.

12. St. George is among the five oldest parish churches in the city ofMytilene. The contemporary church has been founded was founded onthe site of an older church, in 1792. as evidenced by the inscriptionfound on the main entrance’s lintel. The church is a three-aisled basilica with a hemispherical engraveddome and double-pitched roof. The church’s ceiling is flat anddecorated with coffers. The dome, in the middle aisle, is internallydecorated with an illustration of Jesus Christ, who emerges from theclouds with both hands raised in blessing. The church’s floor is pavedwith white and grey slabs and appears to have a hypsometricaldifference from the western to the eastern side of the church.

The icons screen of the church is made of white marble and was constructed in 1792 aswell. Special attention should be paid to the magnificent relief decoration of the parapets,below the icons screen. The marble pulpit was constructed in the same period as theicons screen, and follows a similar style. The primatial throne of the church is carven; itwas possibly made earlier, as part of the older church. The oldest among the icons thatdecorate the church date back to the 18th century. Among the church’s relics there existseveral holy objects, old mass books and an old archive.

13. The sacred temple of St. Apostles is located in themarket area of Mytilene, on a road adjoining Ermou Str.Similarly to many other churches in Lesvos, St. Apostles is builtaccording to the post-Byzantine basilica style and consideredas one of the oldest in Mytilene. The church was built around 1815, according to twoinscriptions found on the main entrance’s lintel and on anarthex’s pillar. However, it is believed that the church was builton a site where an older church used to stand, as evidenced by

the old documents of the Diocese of Mytilene as well as the old icons of the icon screen,dated before 1815. The church is a three-aisled basilica. It has a double-pitched roof, while its ceiling isdome-shaped on each aisle. The floor is covered with symmetrical slabs of marble,constructed by white marble. The icon screen, made of carved wood, was constructed right after the temple’s erection.Several remarkable icons may be found in the church, dated back to the end of the 17thcentury. The church is maintained in good condition today; the guest house of the Mytilene’sbishopric is housed right next to it.

14. The temple of St. Symeon is one of the oldest in Mytileneand is ranked as part of the core of the city centre’s churches.The church honors the name of the Lesvian pillar saintSymeon, who gained recognition during the fight against theiconoclasts. His name has been cited in the Council that tookplace in Constantinople in the year 843. The contemporary temple of St. Symeon was built between1885 and 1891, on the site where an older church used tostand. Regarding its architecture, the church is a cross-shaped,

three-aisled basilica with an engraved dome, which is not externally pronounced. On thenorthern part of the church, under the narthex, is located the chapel St. Anargyri, inside aprotruding section. The most remarkable decorative element of the church is its splendidly crafted carven iconscreen, constructed in the beginning of the 19th century by artist Stavros Chiotis. The iconscreen was part of the older church St. Symeon and was completed later on. The rest ofthe church’s woodcrafts (e.g. the Chancel table and its ciborium, the bishopric throne andthe pulpit) are of the same age and comparative aesthetic value as the icon screen. The church was painted by Polychronis and decorated by Pergaminelis, two artists thatworked in parallel in 1917. The church St. Symeon celebrates each year on September 1st.

15. The temple of St. Theodore is located in Epano Skala, onthe northern side of Mytilene’s cathedral. The church was builtin 1795, replacing an older one, which had been completelyburnt. As for the older church, we only know its constructiondate; however, the icons of its icon screen, dated back to thebeginning of the 17th century, still exist. The church is a three-aisled basilica, whose middle aisle’s roofis elevated. Several pillars have been integrated in the outer

narthex; those pillars used to be part of a building from classical times, while similarstructural material has been used in the forefront of the building, as well as in parts of theinterior. Parts of the church’s old decoration -completed in 1799- still exist. The icon screen, madeof carved wood, is particularly significant; it is covered by illustrations inspired by the Bibleand was made by artist George Chiotis in 1812. There also exist portable icons rescuedfrom the fire that burnt the older building. Among them, the Byzantine icon “Virgin MaryAgiotheodoritisa” is distinguished, since it was honoured in litanies all over the city ofMytilene. The temple of St. Theodore celebrates on the Saturday of the 1st week of Fast, on Match25th and August 15th.

16. The cathedral of St. Athanasius is located in the junctionof Ermou Str. and Mitropoleos Str. Although its exactconstruction date is not known, St. Athanasius is the oldestpost-Byzantine basilica of the island of Lesvos. The church is cruciform and domed, deviating from the Lesvianpattern. Inside, the three aisles of the church are divided by tworows of six pillars with golden capitals. On the upper part of thenarthex and the upper side parts of the church there exists thegallery of the church. The icon screen of the church, made in 1738, the bishopricthrone, the lamps and the altar – possibly the oldest in Lesvos– are considered among the most remarkable carven works ofthe late baroque period still extant in the island.

Among the important icons of the church, that of Jesus Christ on the icon screen is ofgreat importance. It was part of the heirlooms brought to Lesvos after the Asia Minordisaster and dates back to the 16th century. In the middle aisle, below the double-headed eagle, there is a crypt where high priestsused to be buried in, from 1707 to 1783. The city’s inhabitants used to hide the holy relicsof St. Theodore here. In 1832, when Mytilene was plagued by the Black Death, thehabitants took the holy relics off the crypt and processed them around the cathedral. Thisis believed to have saved the city from the epidemic. Following that, the relics were placedin the carven larnax, where they still remain to this day. Outside the church, bell-tower dominates, rising at a height of 33 meters; the basic rule forits erection licence (issued by the Ottoman authorities) was for it to be shorter than theminaret of the neighbouring Yeni Mosque.

17. The Epano Skala walk is a project undertaken by the Municipality of Mytilene,funded by the Regional Operational Program of the Northern Aegean. The aim of theproject is to spotlight the historical area of “Epano Skala” in the centre of Mytilene. The course of the walk passes through diverse points of cultural interest in Epano Skala,where suitable sign boards have been placed to inform the public. In this way, the walk inthe historical city centre will represent a complete work that will serve the integration of themonuments within the townscape and modern city life.

18. The building of the Old Port Authority is located in thecentre of the city of Mytilene, in Sapfous square. This building, with acute angles on its roof, was built between1890 and 1900 to house the Turkish Port Authority of the town.However, following the island’s liberation in 1912, it retained thesame usage until the 1960s. Later on, the Land Service of theGreek State donated the old Port Authority to the Municipalityof Mytilene, in order for it to be converted to a Folklore

Museum. Nowadays, the building has been renovated and used as a Museum of Folk Art, while italso houses the Tourist Office of the Municipality of Mytilene.

19. The Old Archaeological Museum is housed in athree-storey, 19th century neo-classical building, opposite theport of Mytilene. The building was erected around 1912 by theSmyrnean architect Vafeades in a refined style and representsa remarkable architectural specimen from the latter days of theTurkish occupation. The building was originally the property ofthe Achilleas Vournazos family, but it was sold in 1965 to theGreek State so as to house the Archaeological Museum. All the rooms of the mansion have been used to exhibit thearchaeological finds. Figurines, ceramics and jewellery from

the Pre-Historic to the Roman ages are exhibited in the central building. Heavy objects likethe unique Aeolian capitals from the temples of Klopedi, the most important inscriptions,sepulchral columns, grand relieves, statues and coins from the Archaic to the Romanages have been placed in the homestead and the yard.

The museum also houses exhibits donated by private citizensand associations.

20. The new building of the Archaeological Museum ofMytilene is situated in the Kioski area, where recentexcavations revealed the sanctuary of Aphrodite. Themuseum’s erection was completed in 1995 and its permanentexhibition inaugurated in 1999. The permanent exhibition of the New Archaeological Museum,entitled "Lesvos from the Hellenistic to the Roman ages",

includes finds of the Hellenistic and Roman period from Lesvos. Amongst the exhibits displayed in the Museum halls, the mosaic floors of the luxuryRoman villas of the 2nd century B.C. are of special value. The epitaph grand relieves, thestatues and the portraits of important figures of the Hellenistic and Roman ages in Lesvosare also outstanding. Apart from the permanent exhibition, the New Archaeological Museum also hoststemporary exhibitions. In parallel, additional activities are held in the museum, includingeducational programmes, galas, conferences and events co-organized with variousorganizations.

21. The old lighthouse of Mytilene is situated below thecastle of Mytilene, in the Fykiotrypa area. The Lighthouse isbuilt upon a flat rock, under which there exists a cave and thesmall rocky beach of Fykiotrypa. The lighthouse structure comprises the characteristicguard-house, which is shaped by successive rooms built upon

the rock. On the top of the building’s roof, the metal part of the lighthouse emerges,signaling the navigation routes from the castle area to the entrance of the port of Mytilene.

The entire lighthouse structure was recently renovated by the Department of RecentMonuments and Technical Works of the Northern Aegean.

22. The Statue of Liberty, evoking the one in New York, issituated in the modern port of Mytilene, below the city castleand next to the beach “Tsamakia”. The statue stands on thespot where -until 1922- stood the “Kastreli” or “Bourtzi”; thelatter used to be the –possibly Byzantine – bastion of the castleof Mytilene. The Statue of Liberty is made of bronze, stands on a marblebase and was donated to the city by expatriates. The statue’ssculptor, Gregorios Zevgolis crafted the statue from a design

by Lesvian painter Georgios Iakovides. The statue was cast in Germany in the 1920’s and devoted to the victims of the 1st WorldWar; it was unveiled in 1930. In the yearly celebration of the Greek revolution on March25th, the local authorities lay wreaths at the feet of the statue, in memory of nationalheroes.

23. St Therapon, with its imposing dome, is the largest templedominating the city of Mytilene. The church was built on the site of the chapel of the samename, which had served the needs of the Mytilene CharityInstitution hospital’s patients; the Institution is housed oppositethe church. The contemporary church’s construction was began in 1880and completed in 1915, mainly funded by the CharityInstitution. The church’s erection was undertaken by Lesvianarchitect Argyris Adalis, who served as assistant of thearchitects Hansen and Ziller. The fundamental architecturalstyle of the church is that of the engraved cruciform with dome.However, the building’s exterior bears intensely gothic

characteristics, enriched by neo-classical, renaissance and baroque elements. Theexternal decorations are creations of the famous Lesvian painter and sculptor NikolaosKesanlis. Inside, the carven icon screen is a work dating from 1915, created by local craftsmanDimitrios Kovalas. The same craftsman made the primatial throne, the pulpit and the twolarge priedieu of the church. The grave of the Archbishop of Hungarian-Wallachia, one of the protagonists of theRevolution of 1821, may be found in the main part of the church. Among the church’s relics there are two acclaimed Byzantine icons which used tocompose, until 1960, a double-faced Byzantine icon. Jesus Christ Pantocrator appears onthe first view and John the Theologian on the second. The illustrations date back to theend of the 14th and 15th century, respectively.

24. The Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum of Mytilene islocated opposite the temple of St. Therapon, on the groundfloor of the Mytilene Charity Institution building. The history of the Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum is tied withthe Archbishop of Mytilene Iakovos Kleomvrotos, who enrichedthe collection of his predecessor Archbishop Iakovos Nicolaoswith additional Christian artefacts that ran the risk of damageand destruction.

The increasing number of artefacts gradually dictated the foundation of a museum. Thus,the Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum was founded in 1978. The museum houses and exhibits objects of Christian art, including a prominent collectionof icons. The collection spans the period between the 13th and the 20th century.Therefore, there are representative samples from the middle-Byzantine period as well aslater-Byzantine art from the 15th to the 19th century. Of special value among the icons are “The Second Advent”, with its remarkably large size,and the “Assumption of Virgin Mary”, a work of the naif artist Theofilos. Apart from themain icons collection, there are collections comprising other church objects, such ascarven bema-doors, canonicals, scripts, etc. The Byzantine Museum of Mytilene is open to the public daily except Sundays, while italso hosts a museum shop.

25. The Old Town Hall of Mytilene stands on the town’swaterfront and on a corner of the Public Garden. The TownHall, together with the neighbouring Public Theatre and thePrefecture, comprise a building triangle, erected in the areathat used to be occupied in its entirety by the Public garden ofMytilene. The construction of the Town Hall was begun between 1890and 1900 by mayor Fotios Simeonides. Next, from 1898 to

1906, the completion of the work was undertaken by mayor Constantinos Cavetsos. Thebuilding was finished during the tenure of Mayor Vasilios Vasiliou. Architecturally, the two-storey building follows the neoclassical building style.Characteristic of this style are the plethora of decorative elements. Today, the first floor has been converted into a conference and ceremony hall, while theground floor hosts the City Library and various municipal cultural activities.

26. Mytilene’s Public Theatre stands on the town’swaterfront, very close to the old Town Hall and the Prefecturebuilding. The theatre is built in the location previously occupiedby the town’s public garden. Before that, in the 18th century,this very spot hosted a “tarsanas” i.e. a boat yard. The construction of the Public Theatre started during the tenureof mayor Apostolos Apostolou, based on designs of localarchitect Demetrakis Hadjioannou. Instrumental in the erection

of the building was the sponsorship, through his estate and after his death, of GregoriosRousellis, a local businessman who was a passionate theatre lover. In the following years, the theatre and its surroundings were refurbished extensively.Today, the theatre’s main hall has a capacity of 500 people. Several performances,concerts, art exhibitions, gatherings, conferences and events take place in the main halland other available areas of the theatre.

27. The Prefecture building stands on the edge of Mytilene’swaterfront, in Constantinoupoleos Square. The Prefecture,together with the neighbouring Public Theatre and the OldTown Hall, were built on the location previously occupied by theCity’s Public Garden. The Prefecture mansion was constructed in the middle of1930s and is listed by the state as a “preserved historicalmonument and work of art”.

The architecture of the two-storey building follows the neoclassical building style. Thebuilding’s entrance is very prominent and is characterised by a portico with four pillarswhich support the monumental pediment crown of the forefront.

28. The ancient theater of Mytilene is located at a high pointof the city, over the area of “Synikismos”, close to the church ofSt. Kyriaki.

The ancient theater, one of the most important of its age, has been a watershed for thelater development of Roman theater architecture. The current monument’s condition gives evidence of several construction phases.Although the existence of a theater at the same location is reported since the 7th centuryBC, the first construction phase of the present theater dates back to the early Hellenisticperiod. The theater was renowned in ancient times due to its considerable size, since it couldaccommodate up to 10,000 spectators. Its acoustics was equally famous, while itsimposing position, with a spectacular view of the city’s castle and ports, gave it enormousprestige. The theater achieved its final shape in the late Roman era. Its cyclical orchestra isseparated from the completely destroyed seating area (the koilon) by a wall, originallyused to protect the spectators from the wild animals of the Roman shows. The wall boremarble slates covered by inscriptions. The theater’s scene is divided by three aisles. It isreckoned that the impressive clay pipe in evidence was used to carry water to theorchestra, in order to illustrate battles at sea. Today, the ancient theater functions as an archaeological site that admits visitors. It hasbeen partially excavated, while its further exploitation as a place for staging theatricalplays is under consideration.

29. The temple of Panagia Chrysomallousa (honouring theDormition of the Divine Mother) stands in the area of Mytilenecalled “Chrysomallousa”. The church is said to have been builton the spot where, in ancient times, stood the temple ofMalloentos Apollon. The present church was built in 1887 on the site of two olderchurches. The second of the older churches was built in 1816,as is recorded on the two inscriptions engraved on the frontwall of the present church. The architect Athanasios

Triantafylloy actually preserved the narthex from that church and extended its eastern partin order to build the present church. Panagia Chrysomallousa is built in the three-aisled basilica architectural style. Thechancel screen in the church’s interior dates from the beginning of the 19th century andcomes from the previous church. The screen is a piece of excellent woodcut artwork and itwas complemented in 1887 by Mastrotheologos in order to fit in the new church. Thebishop’s throne was constructed in 1887 by artist Iosif Petrou. In the church courtyard rises a bell tower, built between 1903 and 1904. Additionally,outside of the church and north of the altar there is a small, chapel-shaped mausoleum.This was constructed in 1905 by the marble sculptor Nikolaos Zervas. The mausoleumhosts the tomb of martyr Saint Theodoros of Byzantio, patron saint of Mytilene, who washanged by the Turks in 1795. Today, the Saint’s relic is kept in the cathedral of Mytilene.

30. At about 2 kms south of Mytilene, in a suburb calledAkleidiou, stands the small temple of Annuciason(Evaggelistria), with its imposing dome. The church was built in 1901, at the same location where stoodthe church of Panagia of Akleidiou. The present church wasbased on designs by the architect Kampanakis and on funding

collected by pious parishioners of the area. The church’s chancel screen was constructed in 1910 by sculptor Ioannis Hadjidiakos.The icons of the screen are the work of the Iosaphaeans, renowned church artists fromHoly Mount of Athos (the Aghion Oros). Some of these icons have silver covers. Thechurch’s bell tower is one of the most impressive in Mytilene and was constructed with thesponsorship of Michael Bambouris. The church does not have frescos, apart from the illustrations on the dome, on thetriangles of the dome and on the arch of the altar. Of special interest are the icons of thechancel screen and several portable icons dating from the 18th century. Most noteworthyis a Byzantine-style icon of Aghios Demetrios holding a spear, probably dating from the15th century. In the north part of the church courtyard stretches the parish cemetery, where are foundmany family tombs from the area of Akleidiou. The church of Evaggelistria celebrates on the 25th of March, the day the Annunciation,and on the 15th of August, the day of the Dormition of the Divine Mother.

31. The church of Saint Georgios stands in the area of KatoChalikas in the southeastern part of Mytilene. As indicated on the inscription found in the narthex, the churchwas built in 1817 at the site of an older chapel dedicated to St.George. The church’s erection was funded by the Bishop ofMytilene Kallinikos and other dignitaries of the island. Muchlater, in 1978, further works were conducted to strengthen thestructure of the church as several cracks had occurred on theoutside of the building.

The building has a rectangular shape and follows the architectural style of thesecond-period Lesvian-type basilicas, with an arch on the ceiling of the central aisle andcross-vaults on the ceiling of the two transversal aisles. The church’s interior is decorated with very interesting icons. The chancel screen is madeof marble and preserves the simple structure of the old screens. The throne is woodcutand bears a ciborium. The pulpit is also woodcut, rests on its own pillar and has thestandard pulpit shape. The church has several portable icons, some of which originatefrom the older chapel. There are two monuments in the church courtyard, one belonging to the Petrellis familyand the other to Demetrios Lalelis. Both monuments are adorned with busts.

32. The Baths of Kourtzi are found close to the north exit ofMytilene and the factory of DEI (the Greek Electric Company).The deserted building of the Baths used to be part of acomplex erected here by the Kourtzi family in the beginning ofthe 20th century. The Baths were built around three hot springs and two coolwater springs, with a recorded temperature of up to 35.5Celcius. The springs must have been well-known in antiquity, as finds

have been discovered indicating the use of the baths in the roman era.

33. Close to the north exit of Mytilene and next to the localfactory of DEI (the Greek Electric Company) there is a templecalled Metamorphosis Sotiros, honouring the Lord’sTransfirugation. The church was built by the Kourtzi family, whoowned several buildings in the area. The church follows the architectural style of the one-aisledbasilica with an inscribed dome. The dome was painted byartists Eystratides and Polychronis. The structure is fitted with

an embedded bell tower. There are also two chapels, dedicated to saints Georgios andDemetrios, on the north and south side of the church, respectively. The church has awooden portico and on its pediment it is inscribed that the church was erected in 1889. In the church’s courtyard lie the tombs of the Kourtzi family.

34. Behind the cathedral church of Aghios Athanasios inMytilene is a building of the roman era, which probably wasof a public nature, as its architecture proclaims. Here stands a semi-circular buttress, which upheld large sheerpillars with an Ionian base. Several large pieces lie next to it,most likely from its epistyle, which rested on the pillars. Thesepieces are decorated in the Ionian style and feature themesfrom nature. Several scenarios have been conceived about theuse of this building.

The most probable scenario, though, claims that the building was used as the as theParliament Assembly or Senate House of the city. The building dates from the late roman years and it indicates, together with the numerousmanors discovered around Mytilene, the climax the region reached during the roman era.

35. The Parthenagogeion, or Girls’ School, is located onPittakou Road, in the centre of Mytilene. The original schoolbuilding was erected in 1861, while the present one was builton the same location in 1898. The school’s construction wassponsored by Zafiris Bournazos. The building follows the monumental architectural style of theneoclassical era. The central building is surrounded by wingsforming a closed complex with a courtyard. The decoration isfocused on the building’s front, which is fitted with a Doric

portico, while the central entrance is crowned with a pediment bearing the bust of school’sbenefactor. The school’s architect was probably Argyris Adalis, although there arereferences to another architect, Demetrios Meimaris. In the 19th century, the school’s study syllabus followed the general educational system ofthe Greek state, albeit with a conservative inclination. The school put heavy stress on theimportance of educating future wives and mothers on daily housekeeping topics. It did,however, also care for the development of skills for girls wanting to continue theireducation or to earn a living. Today, the Girls’ School continues its educational tradition by functioning as a Primary andSecondary School for the city of Mytilene.

36. The northern port of Mytilene in the area of EpanoSkala was called “Malois Limin” after the sanctuary of MaloenApollo, which was found in the area. This port used to be thetrade centre of the city. The remains of two breakwaters fromthe 5th century still stand on the site, in exceptionally goodcondition. The first eastern breakwater is 350m long andbranches off from a tower of the ottoman section of the castleof Mytilene. On its northern side, in past times, there existed a

lighthouse, as illustrated in gravures of the 18th century. The second north-westernbreakwater is extended from the beach, close to the abandoned factory of Kalamaris, andstretches to the east in a distance of 150m. The original construction of the harbour installations dates back to the end of the 5thcentury B.C., according to evidence provided by the historian Thucydides. However, therealso exists a third underwater breakwater that follows the same trail with the eastern oneand bends to the west, forming a small port-basin. Presumably, its construction representsan earlier harbour work.

37. The walking path of the Kioski region of Mytilene passes by the Argiri EftaliotiStreet, the ring-road around castle, MiKras Asias, 8th Noembriou, Katsakouli, Skra andJames Arisarchi Streets. The manors that can be seen on the walking path are thefollowing: (1) Achillea Vournazou Manor, (2) Trantafillidou – Paradelli Manor, (3) VasileouHouse, (4) Fourtana House, (5) Katsakouli Manor, (6) Manola Mansion, (7) KritikouHouse, (8) Turkish House, (9) Michael Katsani Manor, (10) Vasileou Goutou Manor, (11)James Aristarchi Manor, (12) Terpandou Papadopoulou House, (13) George Kapsimalitwin residence, (14) George Kapsimali residence.

38. The walking path that passes by the city centre of Mytilene, the area around thefootball ground and the area of tarsana, it in succession passes by the following streetsKountourioti, St Therapontos, Alkaiou, Vournazon, Kavetsou, Karapanagioti, Vostani andEl. Venizelou. The most important manors that can be seen on this walking path are thefollowing: (1) Great Britannia Mansion, (2) Bank of Greece Mansion, (3) Theodorou Iliadi –I. Vouliouri House, (4) Nikolaou Voukarelli Manor, (5) Kabouri Manor, (6) AlexandrouVostani Manor, (7) Giannikou Christofidi Manor, (8) Christofidi – Efstratiou Manor, (9)Leonti House, (10) Louka Goutou Manor, (11) A. Fourtouna Manor, (12) THemistokliParadelli – Vostani House, (13) Konstantinou Kavetsou Manor, (14) Stavrou StathopoulouManor, (15) Olga Lalelli – Perikli Antoniou House, (16) Apostolou House, (17) EfstratiasSourlaga and Amatzidelli House, (18) Apostolou Chatzichristofa Manor, (19) ParaskevaVostani Manor.

39. The walking path that passes by the areas of Makri Gialos, Sourada, andAklediou and Varea includes the following manors that can be found on the EleftheriouVenozelou Street: (1) Themistikli Noulelli House, (2) Fideli House, (3) Giannipoulou –Triantafillidou Residence, (4) Panagioti Vamvouri Manor, (5) Nikolaou Kouma Residence,(6) Doukaki Koukleli Residence, (7) kapsimali House, (8) Ilia Sourlaga House, (9)Charilaou Aggeletou Manor, (10) Georgiou Domeniko Residence, (11) Chatzichristofahouse, (12) Christofidi – Touliatou House, (13) Konsantikou Chatzichristofa Tower, (14)Antoniou Goutou Manor, (15) Odyssea Koukleli House, (16) Georgi House, (17) TzeortzidiHouse, (18) Spyridona Tzeortzidi Manor, (19) Lalelli House, (20) Alamanelli House, (21)Asimaki Koutzouki House, (22) Koutzouki – Arguriou House, (23) Apostolou EfstratiouTower, (24) Nikolaou Ralli Manor, (25) Thrasivoulou Alepoudelli Manor Villa, (26) KoupaHouse, (27) Kondoni Tower, (28) Koutsoukidi Tower, (29) Fotiadi Tower, (30) ArtemidiHouse, (31) Zografia Parioura’s Manor, (32) Protopatsi – Molinou House, (33) ElpidaSifnaiou – Manouel House, (34) Zannou Sifnaiou Country House, (35) Panagioti SifniouCountry House.

40. The walking path that passes by the area of Aklediou and Varea includes thefollowing 9 manors that can be found on the Eleftheriou Venozelou and A. ApostolouStreets: (1) Panagioti Paradelli House, (2) Alexandrou House, (3) Ioanni Gianneli Tower,(4) Apostolou Paradelli Country House, (5) Grimani Villa, (6) Vanio traditional House, (7)Vasileou Country House, (8) Panagioti Igglezeli House, (9) Achilea Vournazou Country

Villa.

41. The temple of Genesiou Theotokou, honouring TheNativity of the Virgin Mary, stands north of Mytilene, in thevillage of Panagiouda. The church was built in 1896 withfunding granted by locals and the sponsorship of Greekdignitaries in Egypt. The church was built on the site of a chapel dedicated to theBirthday of the Divine Mother. That chapel was preserved untilthe Asia Minor Disaster, when it was used to house refugeesarriving at the island.

The present church follows the architectural style of the cross-domed, three-aisledbasilica. It is said that the church was architected by Demetrios Meimaris, also known as“Calfas”. The outside view of the church bears elements of gothic influence, similarly to StTherapon of Mytilene and the church of Taxiarches in Kagiani. Inside, the church is decorated with very interesting paintings, most noteworthy beingthose of church painter P. Polychronis. The chancel screen, the throne and the pulpit of the church are woodcut. There are alsoseveral icons, the majority of which were made in the 19th century. Most remarkable arethe brassware and books of the holy liturgy, also dating from the 19th century.

42. Panagiouda is a village about 6 kms north of Mytilene. On the coast of Panagiouda, off its picturesque port, stretchesan industrial complex, with a number of buildings that speak ofthe area’s role in economic development in the 20th century. On the complex there is a warehouse, a soap-making factory, atan yard and an olive oil press, all owned by local dignitaryKapsimalis. A little farther off stands the old olive oil-press oflocal dignitary Metrelias. All these buildings are referenced in the area in 1909, while the

Kapsimalis olive oil-press operated until the last decades of the 20th century. The squarechimney, which is still standing, constitutes a very characteristic feature. Today, some of the buildings have been regenerated and are used for other purposes,while others are still deserted and unexploited.

43. The temple of Saint Barbara is found about 7kms fromMytilene, in the village of Pamphila. Saint Barbara is one of themost impressive churches on Lesvos. The present church is built on the site of an older church,,which in turn replaced a previous church at the same locationin the 18th century. The church was built between 1859 and1881 and follows the architectural style of the three-aisledbasilica with an inscribed dome. The church’s architecture anddecoration are telling of the western influences that inspired the

designs of local master-builder Demetris Meimaris and marble sculptor Petros Bekios,who came from the island of Tenos. The marble chancel screen of the church is quite remarkable, as it is the work ofacclaimed sculptor Giannoulis Halepas. The screen was constructed in 1878, as indicatedby the inscription next to the altar doorway. The throne and the pulpit are woodcut,constructed in 1786 and originating from the older church. The holy relic of Saint Barbarais kept in a reliquary positioned in the left part of the central aisle. Several of the church icons are noteworthy, but of particular importance is the icon of StTheodoros of Byzantio, which is located on the north wall of the church. The icon has vasthistorical value, as it is the oldest known icon of the saint. It was made in 1798, just threeyears after the saint’s martyrdom. It portrays the saint standing and, on each corner of theicon, four scenes from the saint’s martyrdom. The ambry holds many objects of ecclesiastical art and old book editions. Furthermore,the church has a remarkable archive, which includes fifty documents from the periodbetween 1767 and 1866.

44. The “Katsakoulio” is a neo-classical building, donated by Andreas Katsakoulis,located in the village of Pamphila. Pamphila is the northernmost village of the municipalityof Mytilene, 7 kilometers away from the city. The Katsakoulio is on the eastern side of the temple of St. Barbara and is stronglyconnected to the village’s history. The building was constructed in 1911, with a donationfrom benefactor Andreas Katsakoulis, to house the area’s school. The imposing school building adopts the neo-classical architectural style of early 20th

century buildings. The school’s entrance is characteristic, decorated by two Ionic pillarsand a marble gate. In the building’s courtyard there is an embedded plate with a gravencross and the initials of the phrase “Jesus Christ Vanquishes”, bearing the date 1784. Itappears that this plate belonged to an earlier building; however, we have no knowledge ofwhat that building was. The Katsakoulio school in Pamphila was renovated quite a few years ago and today hoststhe area’s day-care nursery.

45. The “Bostaneio” primary school is a very prominentbuilding in the village of Pamphila. Pamphila lies about 7kmsfrom Mytilene and is the northernmost village of themunicipality. The “Bostaneio” primary school, standing at the villageentrance, was built in 1928 with the sponsorship of Panagiotisand Georgios Bostanis. The “Bostaneio” was a worthysuccessor to the area’s humble primary school, referenced insources since 1840.

This primary school of Pamphila is still operational today, continuing its educationalactivity.

46. Afalonas is a village approximately 7 kms north ofMytilene. In a prominent position of the village stands thetemple of the Dormition of the Divine Mother. The church was built in 1914, just after the ending of theTurkish occupation, in the place of the older temple of theDormition, which was in a very bad state. The church designswere laid out by the renowned architect of Mytilene, ArgyrisAdalis. The funding for the construction was mainly collectedthrough donations from the locals. In terms of its architecture, the church is a three-aisled,

cross-domed basilica with Byzantine and Gothic elements. The chancel screen, pulpit, throne and alms chest of the church are some of the mostremarkable artworks of wood-sculpture of the beginning of the 19th century. These pieceswere removed from the older church before its demolition and were later placed in the newchurch. Most noteworthy are the icons of the chancel screen, which also originate fromthe old church. Most special amongst the icons is that of the Holy Mother, dating frombefore the 18th century.

47. The Roman aqueduct is located 5 kilometres away fromthe city of Mytilene, in the village of Moria. The building is partof a monumental water-supply network used to transfer waterfrom mount Olympus to the city of Mytilene. The overall lengthof the water pipes and construction works was over 26kilometres. The aqueduct is shaped in a row of arcs, which covered avalley 170 meters long and 27 meters high, approximately. The

row of arcs comprises 17 arcs which appear to gradually penetrate the valley’s banks. Regarding the monument’s architecture, it follows sophisticated models. This is becausethe openings of the row of arcs are not simply supported by bases, but separated intothree running arcs, supported by vertical pillars. Marble cornerstones have been used forthe arcs, while the upper brickwork section belongs to a later period. There are differing views regarding the monument’s dating. Initially, the aqueduct wasconsidered to be dating back to the times of Emperor Hadrian. However, the possibility ofit dating back to the times of Agrippa seems more accurate; Agrippa was a competentengineer who sojourned in Mytilene for long periods between the years 23 and 13 B.C.

Nowadays, the aqueduct is under restoration and represents one of the most importantmonuments of the Roman era in Lesvos.

48. The village of Moria is about 5kms from Mytilene. Thechurch of St. Demetrios lies within a woodland teeming withpines, just above the village. The temple of St. Demetrios was built in the 19th century, as isshown on the fainted inscription over the church entrance. Afterall, the church is referenced in written sources since 1850. Inside the church there are multiple plaques baring the namesof donors. Also noteworthy is a fluted pillar with taenia and aflywheel made of red trachyte.

49. The village of Moria is situated around 5 km away fromthe city of Mytilene. St Vasilios was erected in 1769, on thesite of an earlier church, according to the inscription on aplaque baring a two-headed eagle and located on the mainentrance’s lintel. The church is a three-aisled basilica of Lesvian type; however,a closed narthex has been attached to its western body,disfeaturing its architectural character. The church’s icon screen, created by craftsman Stavros Chios,

is particularly remarkable. Chios was also responsible for the creation of other iconscreens in the broader area of Mytilene. The style and aesthetic value of the primatialthrone and the alms chest’s carven lining are similar to that of the chancel screen; thepulpit and the faldstool are later artefacts. During the recent icon screen’s maintenance works by the 14th Ephorate of ByzantineAntiquities, two mural fragments were revealed, parts of the older wall-painting used todecorate the church a few years after its erection.

50. The temple of St Georgios Tropaiophoros is inAlyfanta about 2 kms from Mytilene. The church was built inthe place of an older chapel that was destroyed due to fire in1912. The church was designed by Ioannis Kokkinos or Malis andfollows the architectural style of the cross-domed basilica with asmall cupola. Inside the church, there is a simple wooden chancel screen.Five pieces of the old woodcut chancel screen have been

placed on the new screen and above the altar doorway. These pieces together, with twoold screen icons, probably originate from the older chapel. The icons picture Jesus Christand St John the Baptist. The throne, pulpit and priedieu of the church are also woodcut and of similar artistic styleto the chancel screen. Additionally, St Georgios has several portable icons and books ofthe holy liturgy from the 18th and 19th century. A cemetery and a small chapel exist in the church courtyard.

51. Alyfanta is a village almost 3.5km from Mytilene, near thebay of Gera. Alyfanta used to be the primary summer holidayresort of the inhabitants of Mytilene. Near the village and inshore of the bay of Gera bay we findPyrgi with its small port. There stands the temple of theDormition of the Divine Mother, built in 1864. Several buildingrelics from ancient times may be found in the church.

52. The temple of StGeorgios Tropaiophoros is inLoutra about 8kms fromMytilene. The church was founded in1815, at the site of an olderchurch, which was made ofwood. Later in 1840, the west

side of the building was expanded with the addition of anarthex. Today, the main church and the narthex are integrated

and constitute a three-aisled basilica. The interior decoration of St Georgios is simple and was completed in 1920. Noteworthyare the two marble priedieus of the church. The first priedieu is made by Zerbas, asculptor from Mytilene, and is adorned with an icon picturing Holy Martyr Theodoros ofByzantio. The second priedieu is the work of sculptor Hadjidiakos and is adorned with anicon of the Holy Trinity. The chancel screen, throne and pulpit of the church are woodcut with decorations thatimitate marble. The church has several portable icons and brassware from the 18th andthe 19th century. Outside of the church, there is a bell tower. One of the bells therein was donated to the

church by the Russian Consul of Mytilene in 1855.

53. Loutra is approximately 9 kms from Mytilene. The villageis situated on two hill slopes west of Amali among fully-grownolive groves. Like most places on the island, Loutra has 2 olive oil-pressfactories, since olive oil production is a very important elementof the island’s economy.

In Loutra there are two neighbouring olive oil-presses, namely, Kiviklis and Baliadis. Bothare characterised by their magnificent architecture. The first one, the property of the Kiviklis brothers, used to belong to the Xatziandreasfamily and was built at about the end of 19th century. It consists of a complex of buildings,the central one being the main olive processing unit, and many warehouses in theperimeter that surround and ring-fence the factory. There are additional auxiliary spaces,such as a weighing balance building, oil warehouses, olive-seed warehouses etc. Thefactory has also got a characteristic polygon-shaped chimney which is about 20m high.Next to Kiviklis stands the Baliadis olive oil-press, which initially belonged to the Vasilioufamily. It was built in 1891 and has a similar layout as its neighbouring factory, with around chimney. Today both olive oil presses are centrifugal.

54. Teriade Museum The Stratis Eleytheriadis – Teriade Museum and Library stands next to the TheofilosMuseum in the Bareia area, just outside Mytilene, in a verdant piece of land selected byEleytheriadis himself. The Museum opened to the public in 1979 and is a grant ofEleytheriadis to the city of Mytilene. The Teriade Museum manages and exhibits the life’s work of collector, publisher and artistStratis Eleytheriadis. Issues of Verve, the illustrated periodical of art published byEleytheriadis, are exhibited in the rooms of the Museum. Display windows exhibit the

issues of Verve, while on the Museum walls hang copies of pages containing illustrationsby very important artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Chagall. The rest of the Museum exhibits issues of the Big Little Books published by Teriade,including lithographs by Picasso (we show works from Le chant des morts, 1950), Matisse(we show works from Jazz, 1950), Chagall (we show works from Daphnis et Cloe, 1961),Leger (we show works from Circe, 1950) etc. These are pieces representing the dialecticrelationship between painting and poetry, combining the work of the greatestrepresentatives of modern art with the writings of great authors and intellectuals. Additionally, the Museum displays copies of manuscripts from the Middle Ages (we showSaint Sebastien, 1946), 40 paintings of naif painter Theofilos (we show “Brave militarychieftain of Macedonia Theodoros Karapatis, pursuing Turks and Bulgarians in 1879”,1932), works of Giannis Tsarouhis (we show “4 seasons”, 1970) and other importantGreek artists, such as Orestis Kanellis (we show “Olive trees”, 1975) and ManolisKalligianis (we show “Great White Cypress”, 1956). The museum organises visual artexhibitions, publications and other cultural activities befitting its character. Theofilos Museum The Theofilos Museum is a donation to the city of Mytilene by Stratis Eleytheriadis. It wasfounded in 1965 in the area of Bareia, on the estate that also houses the Teriade Museumand Library. The Theofilos Museum is housed in a building of local traditional architecture,where 86 of Theofilos’s artworks are exhibited. The promotion of the painter’s work is all attributed to Stratis Eleytheriadis. Eleytheriadis,who met Theofilos in Mytilene in 1829, bought all of his paintings available at the time andeven ordered as many as the artist could produce in order to exhibit them in Paris. The subject matter of Theofilos’s paintings includes representations of scenes fromhistory, allegories, real or imaginary landscapes etc. The artist’s inspiration frequentlyoriginates in mythology, as well as in the Bible, and he manages to combine elementssuch as simplicity, natural harmony and creative imagination. According to Teriade, Theofilos’s work recreates and highlights the Byzantine tradition offrescos and the simplicity and creative imagination of the popular intellect, representing

Greek tradition and Greek nature in harmonious fashion.

55. The village of Aghia Marina is about 5 kms away fromMytilene. Here is also the homonymous temple of St. Marina.The church was built on the spot where, according to tradition,an icon of the Saint appeared several times below apomegranate tree. The exact date the church was built is not known. The ear 1797is referenced in an inscription in the front of the church, but itprobably refers to either the start of its construction or to repairs

undertaken. The church is a basilica. Outside, on the west side where the narthex is, there are twowall-fitted Byzantine marble shields and a plaque bearing the emblem of the two-headedeagle. The parapets were transferred there from the area of Amali, where are found tracesof a Byzantine or proto-christian church. The chancel screen and the throne inside the church are magnificent artworks ofwood-sculpture and were constructed in 1839, as indicated by the date engraved on thethrone. The portable icons date of the 18th and 19th century. Particularly remarkable aretwo Byzantine icons, one representing Christ as the King of Kings and the other the HolyMother holding baby Jesus, which used to be positioned in the church’s holy altar butwere later transferred in the Cathedral’s museum

56. The temple of Pammegiston Taxiarchon is in theTaxiarches village, also known as “Kagiani”, almost 6km fromMytilene. The temple is dedicated to the Archangels Michaeland Gabriel. The temple was built in 1903, the third one to be built on thesame spot. The building is of a cross-domed type and presentsseveral gothic influences. Its monumental cupola is verycharacteristic and resembles that of St Therapon in Mytilene.This is due to the fact that both churches were based on

designs laid out by the same architect, Argyris Adalis. The temple has a remarkable interior decoration. The fresco of the Archangel Michaelpainted on a section of the southern wall is of special interest. The fresco originates fromthe second or first monastery of Taxiarches and has been preserved together with thesection of the wall it is painted on. Equally remarkable are works of wood-sculpture, suchas the chancel screen and the throne that were constructed at the beginning of the 18thcentury and originate from the older temple. The pulpit is of similar style and origin.Additionally, the temple has some portable icons from the 17th century, which probablycome from the older church. One of the most outstanding heirlooms of the temple is anexceptionally crafted Cross of benediction.

57. The 1922 Museum of Refugee Remembrance is accommodated since August 2006at the building of the ex-Primary School of Loutra. The Museum exhibits the collection ofrefugee families’ belongings that have been established at Skala Loutron after the AsiaMinor Catastrophe in 1922. Despite the short period of operation the Museum hasbecome widely known, it accepts daily satisfactory number of visitors, included schoolvisits and has extracted most excellent criticism. The Museum is open to public dailybetween 17:00 to 20:00

100. In the wider area of Alyfanta, the chapel of St. Melanisits on shore of the bay of Gera. The chapel is built on the rocks of Gera’s coast, south of theport of Pyrgi.

101. The small chapel ofChrist is south of the chapelof St Melani on the shore ofthe bay of Gera. The chapel was built on thespot known as Lakerda,between Vigla and Loutra, justbefore the road that leads to

Loutra. In the same area where the chapel of Christ is, the remains of ancient architecturalstructures have been found. Among these are inscribed stones and parts of an oldChristian building structure.

102. Panagiouda is 6 kms outside of Mytilene and, with itssmall port, is considered the city’s foremost onshore outskirts. Slightly north of Panagiouda, by the sea, we find the area ofPhoenicodasos (or Palm tree forest). This area is next to thebeach and full of palm trees, which is the reason the area isnamed “Phoenicodasos”.

103. Pyrgi is a small village in the wider area of Alyfanta onthe bay of Gera. The area was first inhabited in ancient timesand is referenced in sources of the Roman age. In 1864, thechurch of Dormition of the Divine Mother was founded in Pyrgi.Next to the coast lie the remains of an ancient ceramicsworkshop and further south are the remains of a settlement,possibly from the Roman age. Today, Pyrgi is mainly known forits picturesque port and tourist facilities. From Pyrgi’s port thevisitor may enjoy the beautiful sunset in the bay of Gera.

104. The small chapel of St Nikolaos stands on the coastnorth of Pamphila village. With its bright white colour, it standsout within the all-green landscape below the hillside of olivetrees that descending from the peak of Vigla all the way to thesea. The chapel has a balcony overhanging the sheer coast. A narthex was added to the chapel of Ai Nicholas after it wasbuilt. Within the chapel, there is a woodcut chancel screen andicons belonging to the old temple of St Barbara of Pamphila. In

the chapel’s courtyard stand parts of two fluted pillars.

105. Skala Loutron is the name of the port of Loutra, on thebay of Gera. It is a picturesque port, full of life, especiallyduring the summer. Here is the old olive oil-press factory of Irene Vasiliou, built in1909, which now operates as a hotel. Next to this and on theport of Skala, there is the fishermen’s union of Loutra as wellas the renowned “tarsanas” of the area. The old “Tarsanas”, orboat yard, is now a maintenance establishment for boats andother shipping vessels.

A bit farther to the east and at the root of the rocky hill of Skala Loutron lies an olive-seedprocessing factory, initially owned by local businessman Mouzalas and operating up untilthe mid-1980s. The factory is said to be the first that was established on the island ofLesvos, in 1909. Finally, an ancient fort exists on the picturesque hill of Panagia Skalas Loutron, whereseveral ancient tombs have been discovered from the classic age, indicating the presenceof an ancient settlement by the coast. thereon. Surface finds have been revealed in thearea, providing evidence of the existence of a fishing settlement during archaic andclassical times.

106. Kountouroudia is a port accommodating the wider areaof Loutra in the bay of Gera. From here sail small boatstravelling between Kountouroudia and Perama, the locationdirectly opposite Kountouroudia within the bay of Gera. Along the port, visitors may enjoy a number of tourist facilities,including several tavernas offering traditional seafood

delicacies. About 300m west of Kountouroudia is the small rocky islet of Aghios Isidoros, with a smallchapel, the remains of an older chapel and some fort walls from the Byzantine era.Further remains of old buildings can also be found opposite Aghios Isidoros.

107. The Aghia Marina – Panagia Amali trail is a hiking routeof about 12 kms south of Mytilene and is exceptional due to itsbeautiful landscapes. The route is ideal for nature lovers, hikers and mountain-bikers.It lasts about 4 hours and passes through Aghia Marina – Amali– Portes – Tsekouria – Lagkadas – Aghia Marina Football

Ground and Aghia Marina. The route has three signs with information including maps, descriptions of the route andthe wider terrain. It is signposted all through, providing the hiker useful local informationregarding current position and direction. Visitors can relax at any time sitting at tables andbenches scattered alongside the trail. An information kiosk is also available, with a uniquebird’s eye view of the southeast side of the island. The construction of the Aghia Marina – Panagia Amali trail was funded by the Agency forthe Local Development of Lesvos a part of the EU initiative “Leader Plus – Local

Programme of Lesvos”.

108. The Haramida bay is about 10 kms from Mytilene, pastMytilene’s airport. In the past few years, it has been afast-developing tourist area. Haramida is a valley bordered in the west by a line of hills andin the east by Amalis Mountain. The “Lahaneri” stream runsthrough the valley and pours into the bay. Ancient ruins havebeen discovered in the wider area signifying that it has beenconstantly inhabited from ancient times.

Today, Haramida benefits from numerous cafes, restaurants and hotels lying alongsidethe beach and providing visitors with high quality comforts. The beach of Haramida is one of the most renowned spots on the island, attracting a

significant number of tourists due to its close distance toMytilene and its natural beauty.

109. In the wider area of Loutra and near the coast ofHaramida lies the bay and picturesque beach of AghiosArmogenis. On a rock at the edge of the bay stands the smallchapel of St Ermogenis, with its characteristic cupola.According to local legend, the chapel was built on the site of anolder building. The coast of Aghios Ermogenis is distinguishedfor its transparent, crystal-blue sea waters and its all-green

landscape, filled with pines that reach as far as the beach. Within this idyllic scene, visitorscan enjoy a nice swim and find all the necessary amenities in the established local touristfacilities.

110. Following the inshore route south of Mytilene city, after Kratigos and before theacumination of the cape of Agrilias or Maleas, there is the area of Agios Georgios. Thesite has been named after the newly-built chapel of St. Georgios, which is situated

111. Skala Loutron is the port of the village of Loutra, on thebay of Gera. Inside an olive grove, on a hill bordering Skala Loutron, is thepicturesque chapel of Panagia Ipsili. A small, stone-built path leading to a flight of stairs, grantsaccess to the chapel. Both the path and the chapel are fully-litat night, facilitating visitor access. The small chapel of PanagiaIpsili overhangs the hill and stands out due to its white andpurple colour, while providing a magnificent view of the port

below.